News Roundup: 7 Stories You Don’t Want to Miss This Week [9 November – 14 November]

This week, Flipkart re-launched its mobile site by the name ‘Flipkart Lite’, earlier  users were directed   to download and install the app when they use to open Flipkart on mobile. The company also said that it will focus on becoming more mobile centric through adoption of newer technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and social networks

Important developments of the week:

Snapdeal Launches Snaplite

Snapdeal announced its mobile web app by the name Snap-Lite that will mimic its desktop site that can work across all browsers.

IITs Kick Out Zomato From The Placement Menu

The spat between Deepinder Goyal and IIT-Delhi seems not to have settled as Zomato has been blacklisted by All-IITs Placement Committee (AIPC). Zomato’s tight revenue rope walk and laying off employees, is assumed as another reason

Haryana Govt Waves Green Flag To Bike-As-A-Taxi Service

Government of Haryana has permitted the use of commercial two-wheelers to operate as contract carriages in the city. 74 BC Technologies Pvt Ltd will launch its bike-as-a-taxi service under the brand name ‘Baxi’ offering affordable last-mile connectivity to offices, colleges, schools and residential areas, from metro and bus stations.

SEBI Might Allow Ecommerce Companies To Sell Mutual Funds

Indians have approximately spend about $9 Bn this year in online shopping. SEBI is interested in ‘altering regulations’ to allow ecommerce websites to offer mutual funds to help them reach out to young investors easily.

Ola Launches Ola Money App

Ola’s newly launched Ola Money will offer peer to peer payments, mobile recharges & postpaid bill payments and work with an ecosystem of merchants. Ola Money users will be able to check offers on partnered merchants’ site as well.

MakeMyTrip Checks Into The Budget Accommodation Space; Launches Value+

After delisting OYO rooms and ZO rooms from its platform, MakemYTrip has has launched its own brand of budget rooms called Value+. With this, MMT hopes to increase its revenue contribution from hotel business from 45% to 70% in the next three years.

Other developments of the week:

AskMeBazaar Launches Community For Ecommerce Merchants

AskmeBazaar launched a new portal by the name ‘Grow with Us’ through which the merchants will be able to interact and share insights on their experience of doing business online.

RSS Pokes Myntra For Selling Cow Leather Shoes

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers tweeted that it wants the government to take action against ecommerce site, Myntra, for selling cow leather shoes, and thus, hurting religious sentiments of Hindus.

SBI To Launch Mobile Wallet ‘Batua’

In its efforts to become the banker for Digital India SBI is about to launch mobile wallet ‘Batua’ to offer wallet services for smartphone users.

Airtel’s Wynk Hits 12 Mn Downloads

Bharti Airtel’s Wynk Music claims to have crossed 12 Mn downloads within 14 months of its launch. The company reported that two-thirds of downloads were made by users who do not subscribe to Bharti Airtel’s mobile telephony services.

Kanwaljit Singh Re-joins Board Of Helion Investees

Helion Venture Partners’ co-founder Kanwaljit Singh has re-joined the VC firm as independent director on the board of investee companies. Alongside his early stage investment activity, Singh is working on a support ecosystem for consumer startups.

Mobikon Strikes artnership With BPI Bank

Mobikon has tied-up with BPI bank to provide its merchants with Mobikon’s platform for customer engagement platform to restaurants. The tie-up would help Mobikon to reach out to 300+ restaurants and strengthen Mobikon’s presence in Philippines. Mobikon is also in talks with other leading banks in India and other markets.

FreeCharge Refreshes Android App

FreeCharge launched revamped version of its  Android app, with new features that will allow customers pay electricity bills, landline and broadband bills faster.

Droom Rides Into Maharashtra

Droom extended its services in Mumbai, Nasik, Pune and Thane by on-boarding more than 250 sellers in the state. This will also allow users in these areas to avail other automobile related services through the platform.

Carbay Enters Motorcycle Space In Indonesia

After dominating the car portal category in Indonesia, Girnar Software’s Carbay entered the motorcycle space to allows users to buy motorcycle on the platform. The platform will give an overview of price, specifications, features, pictures, reviews and road tests. The app is android on both Android & iOS platform.